Remembering Joseph: Personal Recollections of Those Who Knew the Prophet Joseph Smith

by Mark L. McConkie (Editor)

Excellent Book

Genres: Lds, Religion, Biography, History, Nonfiction, Historical

529 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Terry Earley · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.mormontimes.com/article/19...

So nice to have original material. I especially like the CD (*.chm help file so text is fully searchable). I will keep these for reference in the future.

Each is self-contained, so easy to read a few at night or for a few minutes at a time.

As I wrote in "opening the Heavens": "After all the summaries, commentaries and histories, first hand accounts help you to better feel what it was like to be there." This book is not only an engaging read by topic, it will be an excellent resource for future talks and lessons.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my absolute favorite books next to the scriptures and modern teachings of the prophets. It's a fabulous resource for stories about Joseph's life and teachings.

There were only a few things lacking: (1) certain stories were not included because they were not "credible" because they teach early Mormon teachings instead of modern Mormon teachings. There may have only been a few but they were acknowledged early in the book. Like many mainstream LDS books, the author felt he had to sterilize what he included to protect the saints instead of including everything so we could enjoy a fuller picture of Joseph as he was. For historians, academics, and well-read Mormons, this was disappointing; (2) dates - very few dates are included - sometimes that is a glaring detail to miss and would have been helpful to know; and (3) citations are sometimes scanty so finding the original source proves difficult; (4) the index isn't very thorough. If you're going to make the most comprehensive compilation of something, it's nice to make it easier to find stuff.

Critiques aside, this is a fabulous resource and I've thoroughly marked mine up. I'd recommend it for everyone who calls themselves a latter-day saint or Mormon.

[Heather Hoyt]

So I read the Kindle version of this. From what I understand, there is a book that is over 500 pages, and that book came with additional content in CD forms. I believe the Kindle version has everything, and it is incredibly long. It's just organized in alphabetical order. I wish there was some more curating on the Kindle edition because I basically had to do it myself, scanning through the majority of the book in order to come up with the bits that I actually wanted to read. So this is more of a reference than an actual book, which makes it impossible to rate. But I went through the entire thing and there was some really good primary information about Joseph Smith.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a neat book to read exactly 177 years since the Prophet Joseph Smith's death. I have an increased appreciation for his life. What a remarkable man and prophet of God! His important contributions have blessed all of mankind in all generations. It was special to learn about him from the words of people who knew him, other Church leaders and ordinary people and neighbors. The variety of accounts add perspective and insights about Joseph Smith's character, his gifts of the Spirit, the scriptures, Church ordinances, and particular historical events.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to get a feel for the man Joseph Smith Jr then this is a good book to read. These are mostly personal experiences and accounts of interactions with the man and the Prophet of God.
I came away from reading this with a greater appreciation for Joseph Smith Jr as a husband, father, friend, and Prophet. Yes he was a normal man but the power of God was with him.

[Stephen Cranney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but some of the accounts were very, very after the fact. I wish they would have sorted the accounts by how contemporaneous they were; it's hard to know how seriously to take a hagiographic account written down 60 years after the fact.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this before, during, and after a trip to Nauvoo. Absolutely loved the insights into the prophet’s life.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this a couple times. I enjoy hearing what people said about seeing, meeting, or knowing the Prophet Jospeh Smith in person. One of the best simple and insightful statements from the a history of William Henry who knew him in Nauvoo:
"The Prophet Joseph Smith owned three farms in a row at Nauvoo. He sold the one in the middle to William Henrie. From that day on as he passed by their place he would always stop in and rest and chat. Myra would give him a glass of cold milk, or buttermilk, or a baked potato, or a bun or cookie, or whatever she had handy. He would always bless the home and all those who dwelt there when he took his leave. William said he knew he was a true prophet of Cod because he could not be in his presence without feeling the influence and spirit of God which seemed to flow from him almost as heat does from a stove. You could not see it, but you felt it."

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really neat. It contains many comments, quotes and experiences related by those who were close to the prophet Joseph Smith. You learn about his personality along with many of the treasured experiences he had with the early members of the church and others who associated with Joseph during that time.

We visited Nauvoo in 2006 afterwhich I felt a desire to learn more about Joseph. This book was a good step in that process.

Highly recommended.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually contributed a couple of stories to this one. Stories I found digging in the WPA oral history files while working on another project. That, however, is not why I give it a good rating. It is by far the most complete collection of reminiscences of Joseph Smith out there. A really excellent source. It even has a nice essay on the uses and limits of historical reminiscences.

[Dede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not a book you read in one night. The author was thorough, organized and selective in putting this material together. It truly rounded out my former knowledge of Joseph Smith, and was extremely interesting.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in preparation for hosting a tour to LDS church history sites. I loved this book! It includes personal experiences people had with Joseph Smith. It is laid out by subject for easy reference. It even comes with a CD so you can print quotes you want to use.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of insights and quotes about Joseph Smith that I had never read or heard before. It was insightful and thought-provoking. It brought Joseph Smith to life as a person, as a prophet, and as a great man.

[Stewart Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal accounts of interactions with the Prophet Joseph Smith during the struggles in Missouri and Illinois. I really like reading this book

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best church books I've ever read. I thought it was going to mostly be the same stories we always hear about Joseph Smith, but most of these were new to me. I loved it.

[Maryannfreesmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way the author organized the chapters of the book. It is personal writings of people who knew Joseph Smith.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is written for a LDS audience. I loved all of the personal memories of the Prophet Joseph that people shared.

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very faith promoting. Includes brief biosketches of early latter-day saints

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary accounts of Joseph Smith's character and life.

[Malinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! I found it very uplifting and faith promoting.

[Lorin Bruns · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end all resource about Joseph Smith.